Having lost just once away from home this season and arriving at Gallowgate on the back of a 6-1 victory at Southampton in midweek, the only uncertainty about this game appeared to be exactly how many goals Jurgen Klopp's side would win by.

However that grim outlook failed account for a flat Liverpool display, the scoring instincts of Gini Wijnaldum and the fact that our best performances this season have come with Sky cameras in attendance. All three of United's league wins were witnessed by live TV audience - although this second successive home win over the Reds was undoubtedly the least expected of that trio.

Asked whether he'd enjoy a celebratory glass of wine post-match, Steve McClaren admitted that he would be fast asleep instead. However, even in his wildest dreams the Magpies coach surely couldn't have imagined a better way of answering the criticism of his methods and squad that had built steadily following back to back surrenders to Leicester City and Crystal Palace.

The biggest home crowd of the season witnessed a much-improved showing from Newcastle as they outfought and outplayed a listless Liverpool side featuring a below-par old boy James Milner. 

Having recalled Mike Williamson from his loan at Wolves only for him to promptly render himself hamstrung (as was fellow defender Jamaal Lascelles), the United coach left his back five alone and made only one change to the side howked at Palace, replacing Ayoze Perez with Siem De Jong.

The Dutchman has been trying to recapture a semblance of form and fitness since the start of 2015 and although hardly looking sprightly today, he at least had some sort of presence and contributed more than during his non-appearance against Sheffield Wednesday earlier in the season.

Having been club captain at Ajax, De Jong's attempts to organise and cajole his colleagues were evident here - a vocal presence in our side noticeable partly because neither set of fans were in particularly good voice during a forgettable first half.

With only two quarter chances falling to Papiss Cisse in an opening period when our best moment was a backheel from Janmaat, United began to expand their horizons following the break. Liverpool however remained unimpressive (at least until mesrs Sturridge and Lallana arrived); their display like many of ours this season - enjoying harmless bouts of possession and carrying no goal threat.

A game of few chances saw Rob Elliot required only for a couple of routine stops, although visiting forward Christian Benteke should have buried a nodded down corner from inside the six yard box on 21 minutes - his effort somehow clearing the crossbar.

The Newcastle goalkeeper was beaten by Moreno's first-time volley that had already been wrongly flagged as offside and would have brought the Reds level just 10 minutes after falling behind. TV pictures showing the Spaniard to be onside, although play had stopped before his effort went in.

Had we conceded at that point, it's hard to believe we'd have gone and won it, but for once we rode our luck and gained just reward for a spirited display. Some strong challenges saw Colback, Vurnon Anita and Cisse all go into the book, but defensively the Magpies looked infinitely more organised and committed with Dummett and Coloccini visibly more solid that at Selhurst Park.  

As is often the case with us, the opening goal was absolutely crucial and once it arrived, the home crowd roared their approval as an improbable three points suddenly seemed possible and the recent frustrations melted away. And further afield, black and whiters bellowed encouragement and shook fists at TV screens, sensing something worth supporting for the first time in far too long.

Klopp's side kept winning possession but they weren't creating many clear openings and as the time ticked away the black and whites looked like holding on. An incredible five additional minutes were summoned from somewhere to add another layer of tension, but in the third of those, Sissoko teed up Wijnaldum to dink home the clincher and provoke wild and extended celebrations.

The win left us in the bottom three but took us a point above the mackems, joining Bournemouth and Norwich City on 13 points and halting talk around Tyneside that McClaren would be out by before Christmas in the wake of expected losses to Liverpool and Spurs.

Welcome and unexpected this win was though, it does underline our inconsistency and tendency to raise our game against the "big" teams. We've lost just one of our last eight home games against Liverpool and Chelsea combined, but less celebrated teams continue to come here and prosper. 

Frankly though, beating anyone after our recent showings was a massive bonus and partial payback for those who endured the dereliction of duty against Palace and Leicester but still turned up for more punishment - players kissing the badge a week after wiping their backside with it. And by the way, how anyone can seriously talk of turning corners after the Bournemouth game remains a total mystery - a game only valuable in terms of the result and gained via a diabolical performance....

Is it too simplistic to say that the level of performance seen today is motivated by envy and a desire to swap shirts on a more longer term basis than at full time? Are the contributions of messrs Sissoko and Wijnaldum any different to Chris Waddle scoring at Spurs this week back in 1984?

If that were the case, then it would tie in with our declared blueprint but hardly engender a feel good factor on Tyneside as to our future as a club, although one couldn't blame them. 

For now, our expectations have shrunk so much there's a gratitude verging on the pathetic when players do what they are told - and paid - to do, actually try and look as if they give a toss for their employer. In some ways, cheering them off the field was akin putting a garland round the bus driver's neck for getting you to the Haymarket on time. Winning didn't used to be a rarity. 

Something needs to motivate them though, and until today it didn't seem to be a former England boss. Let's hope that a few of them fancy a Seven Sisters switch almost as much as a Liverpool home. Perez first goalscorer next Sunday then....

Biffa